Steam-condenser



(No Model.) H. A. WHEELER.

STEAM GONDENSER.

No. 548,105. Patented Oct. 15,1895.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT A. WHEELER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEAM-CONDENSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,105, dated October15, 1895.

Application filed March 4, 1 8 9 5 To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, HERBERT A. WHEELER, residing at the city of St.Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSteam-Condensers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to an improved device to facilitate thecondensation of steam.

The said device consists of an apparatus in which the steam is directedthrough one or more pipes or passages which are in contact with theexternal air for the purpose of keeping the temperature reduced; and thedevice possesses novelty of construction hereinafter specificallypointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I illustrates a side elevation of myinvention, showing an end View of one of the curved passages for thesteam and a side View of another of such passages. Fig. II illustrates atop view of the device.

The same numbers designate the same parts in each of the two figures.

l is the pipe through which the steam is introduced.

2 is a box or chamber into which the pipe 1 projects a short distance.

flare tubular passages, one or more in number, leading from the box 2,and through which the steam passesin the direction shown by thedouble-winged arrows.

4 are conical or other shaped ends to the said passages 3.

5 are small tubes for conducting off the water, situated at the bottomof each downdip of the passages 3.

6 are discharge-pipes in communication with tubes 5. 7 are alsodischarge-pipes leading from the base of the conical-shaped ends 4. Thepipes 5, 6, and 7 all lead to the box 2.

8 is another discharge-pipe situated at the bottom of the box 2 andthrough which the condensed steam is drained.

9 is the connection or joint between the pipe 1 and the box 2, saidjoint consisting of a sleeve secured to the bottom of box 2, said sleeveextending around, over, and down into the projecting end of the pipe 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: Steam enters through the pipe1 and passes through the pipe 2 and thence into the tubu- Serlal N0.540,399- (No model.)

lar passage 3. An essential feature of my invention is in thearrangement of these tubular passages 3, by which the water is drainedoff in the direction in which the steam passes. This is accomplished byslanting the passages out of the horizontal, so that the Water, inseeking its level, runs to the place of the deepest depression, which issituated just before the abrupt upourve of said passage. The tube isthen recurved back upon itself in the same vertical plane, slantingdownwardly, as shown in the drawings. At the points of deepestdepression the water-drains are located, said drains being incommunication with the main discharge-pipe 8. As the water flows downthe long slanting portions of the passages 3 it passes in the directiontaken by the steam, and consequently instead of preventing its escape itserves to aid it.

While I have shown in the drawings the device furnished with twopassages leading from the box 2 at right angles with each other, it isevident that any desired number may be used, and, also, while I haveshown the passage as curved back and forth within the same verticalplane I do not limit myself to this curved construction, as it isevident that the passage may be jointed at any angle.

I prefer to construct the device of sheetcopper, it being the bestconductor of heat; but any other suitable material may be used.

My invention gives the greatest possible exposure of the passagescontaining the steam and allows the free circulation of air for contactwith said passage-walls, thereby keeping the temperature reduced to aminimum. The pipes may be corrugated to prevent bursting in freezingweather.

Iclaim as my invention- 1. In a steam condenser, the combination ofcontinuous steam passages, curved back and forth in the same verticalplane, the end in the same vertical plane, and a means for drainingwaterfrom the depressions in said passages, substantially as described.

3. In an improved steam condenser, the combination of a steam pipe, abox attached thereto, passages leading from said box, said passagesbeing bent' back and forth in the same vertical plane, a means fordraining water from the depressions in said passages, and aninvertedcone attached ,to the exit 10 ends of said passages,substantially as described.

HERBERT A. WHEELER. In presence of- W. FINLEY,

STANLEY STONER.

